Community News
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Dancing a jig with dad
By Sandy Scheltema It’s been two years since Matt Harding, an internationally renowned sculptor living and working in Trentham, tragically died from suicide, leaving behind his beloved partner Freya Maclaren and their four young children. His death shook the local community, where Matt lived with his family. Trentham resident Jacinta Bourke thought it was a…
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Funds needed to boost Macedon hub
A bold plan to transform Macedon’s much-loved former maternal and child health centre into a community hub is fast gaining community support. A group of dedicated Macedon residents who rallied to save the old Victoria Street house from council sale, have raised about $4000 since launching a fundraising campaign last week to renovate and revive…
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Community leads bushfire relief concert in Macedon Ranges
A community-led bushfire relief concert with an impressive line-up is expected to attract up to 400 people in Kyneton on Saturday, February 1. Lancefield siblings Angel and Jesse Ashman are partnering with Macedon Ranges Shire Council to deliver the event with proceeds of all ticket sales to go directly to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Angel,…
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Walking the walk…Nordic pole style in Castlemaine
Castlemaine’s Johanna Winchcomb admits she loves few things better than a bracing Nordic pole walk. “Nordic pole walking is actually fitness walking,” says Johanna, one of an increasing number of locals taking up this international outdoorsy activity originally developed in Finland to keep skiers fit in the off season. “You exercise 45 percent more of…
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A home of their own
Providing secure, affordable and accessible housing options for local people with intellectual disabilities has been one of two major priorities for the Mount Alexander Shire Accommodation and Respite Group since it formed almost a decade ago. Over the past three months, MASARG has been consulting with local groups and businesses about their ‘A Home of…
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Castlemaine event to connect a community …
The unprecedented fires impacting Victoria and other states, and the underlying issue of climate change, is upsetting not just for those directly involved – but for the wider community. It’s a strong awareness of this that’s prompted local muso and editor and publisher of national health and wellbeing magazine The Art of Healing, Cate Mercer,…
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Hospital hampers help
Staff at Castlemaine Health went above and beyond for this year’s annual ‘Christmas Tree Project’ food drive for Castlemaine Housing Service donating an unprecedented amount of food to assist the region’s homeless.This is the sixth year the staff-led initiative, supported by management and all departments at Castlemaine Health, including staff, doctors patients and visitors has…
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Tears and joy for special show prize
One of the great joys of the Kyneton Show is the joy that fills the pavilion when people run in to see their entries on display, squealing with delight to discover a prize card, even a coveted aggregate championship or best in show sash. But there’s a story behind some of the special prizes. For…
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Join Windarring for an end-of-year wing ding
Windarring disability services is holding an end-of-year ‘Wing Ding’ concert, plus a special performance of Haiku, an award-winning play by the Cathouse Players, in the hope of welcoming the community to get to know its participants. Windarring board member and Cathouse director Bette Sartore said it had been her dream for seven years to host…
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Gisborne firies let their mo’s go
Things are getting hairy at Gisborne Fire Station. Brigade members are ‘letting their mo’s go’ this month to raise funds and awareness for men’s health as part of Movember. In a first-time team effort, Lieutenant Bevan Moody said the brigade had a target to reach $1000 by the end of the of month and were…


